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A
This is the Jocko Underground podcast number 162. Sitting here with EC Echo Charlie. Let's get into it, let's get some questions and provide some recommended courses of action. Let's go.
B
First question. Jocko. Three years ago, I switched my career from 15 years in the medical field to law enforcement. I started in corrections and in two years have just made our tactical team. I'm physically fit, I run and lift, I drink and eat. Great. But training with these younger guys is really showing my age. I'm not backing out of the fight, but it's painful getting up. My question is, is there anything that can help these 45 year old joints? Something to get me off the mat faster, stop the cramping or just keep fighting through it? Like, I have been.
A
First of all, just straight up joint warfare, super krill, time war and creatine. Like I'm gonna go ahead and say that right there. So I've been taking those supplements all the time for a really long time. Joint warfare, super krill, time war, creatine. Awesome. I, I believe that it has a lot to do with the longevity of performance. So, and in that vein, what is eating and drinking great? Because you say you're eating and drinking great. What does that mean? There are people that think they're eating and drinking great and they're not. Like, maybe you're on a, maybe you're like a raw food guy, or maybe you're a vegan guy, or maybe you're a carnivore diet guy, or maybe you're a standard American diet guy, or maybe you're a low carb guy, or maybe you're a low fat guy, or may, you know, there's a bunch of ways you could be eating that you think is great. And maybe they're great for someone, maybe they're great for your trainer, maybe they're great for your wife or whatever. But there's lots of choices. You got to kind of figure out what is good for you, right? Because you could be thinking you're eating great and you're eating food that doesn't really help you feel good, doesn't help you perform, doesn't help you recover. Another thing, like molten greens, like, those are really good. So I would start looking at your, like, what do you mean by eating great steak and potatoes? Cool. But maybe those potatoes you don't need, or maybe you're going too heavy with the steak, you know what I'm saying? So you really need to start to pay attention to what you're putting in Your body paying attention to the fuel. You have to. If you eat like junk, you're gonna feel like junk, but you. Sometimes it's hard to know what junk is, and you might be missing some kind of nutrient in your system that you're just not getting. Maybe you're not getting the right fatty acids. Maybe you're not getting the right protein. Like, there could be things that you're missing. Maybe you're not getting enough protein like someone. If you're. You, you know, you're 200 pounder, you probably need 200 grams of protein a day. Are you getting that? You see what I'm saying? So it's really important that you do a deep dive on what you're putting in your body. Another thing is just like stretch. Stretching and mobility work. Like that stuff is definitely. You don't need to do it when you're 20, but when you're. How old is this dude? 45. When you're 45, you got to get it. You got to get it done. You got to stretch. You got to get that mobility activity going on. We have the expert over here on sleep and rest. Echo Charles, right? You gotta get the rest. If you're shortchanging your sleep, if you're not sleeping enough, you're gonna start to feel bad. What about the, you know, the whole freaking sauna, ice bath, Jacuzzi, like, recovery type stuff? Would you have access to any of that stuff? Can you get in the cold showers? Like, what could you, from that perspective, are you walking? Like, there's so many little things to do. Walking after you eat a meal. Road work. You've been doing a lot of road work. Echo Charles, Your version of road work. Sure. But, you know, maybe just a little bit more road work makes you feel better. Maybe you need a full rest day. A full rest day where you don't do anything but eat. Steak rest and steak day. You see what I'm saying? So all those are kind of my initial sort of guesses or recommendations of things that you need to dial in. And here's the real deal. Go see a doctor, get your blood work done. See where you're at. See how that freaking gut microbiome activity is. See how that endocrine system is working. Because you're 45 years old, I don't know what kind of life you lived. You were in a, in the medical field, you know, I don't know what you know. You don't know what's going on with your system. So get checked out, see what's really up with your health. Health, right. You got to get the blood work and, and then once that blood work comes and you can say, oh, I've got too much of this, I don't have enough iron, I don't have enough vitamin D, whatever, you know, like there's a bunch of things that could be jamming you up, never mind, like actual hormonal problems that people run into. So I would go get that stuff checked out. And then I think what you really, you, what you probably need to do is you need to start dialing in. You need to start just dialing things in. You got to start paying attention to everything. That's the reality. When I was 20 years old, freaking double extra cheese pizza for lunch and Wendy's for dinner. And I'm still gonna go out there in the morning and get after it and not even feel a damn thing bad. Dude, if I eat a freaking, if I eat a fast food right now, it's like you might as well come and hit me in the, in the, in the back of the head with a baseball bat. I feel, feel like junk. So you got to start paying attention to everything because people are getting it done at 45, people are getting it done at 50, people are getting it done at 55, people are going to do it. 60 and 65, dude. But it takes attention, it takes effort, it takes it, it takes intelligence. And when I say intelligence, I'm not talking about you got to be smart. I'm talking about the kind of intelligence that you get in the SEAL teams to go and conduct a mission. You got to find out what is happening. You see what I'm saying? You need intel. You need to gather intel. Where's the, where are you going to gather intel from? Well, it's from. Oh, maybe I need to check out how much food you're eating. Check out what your macros are because you might be thinking you're eating great because you're eating, you know, low fat diet or you're, you're eating whole grains and you're only getting 80 grams of protein a day. No wonder you feel like ass. You know what I'm saying? You need some steak up in you. So I think that's what you need, intel. And the way you're going to get intel is by doing reconnaissance. And the way you do reconnaissance is by paying attention to what's happening. Paying attention to like, oh, well, what did I actually eat yesterday? Did I have a donut? Did I have two donuts? Did I eat a, did I eat. I was, I Had a friend that was eating, I guess it's like a green juice that you could buy. It's like some kind of juice and it looks like ultra healthy. With the label.
B
Yeah, Hell yeah, the label, bro.
A
I picked it up, I looked at it. There was like. I want to say that. I want to say there was 62 grams of sugar.
B
Yeah, I think I know the one you're talking about.
A
62 grams of sugar, bro. In a. In a. It was like this size, this side of a hydrate. It's like 16 ounces. And it was like two servings. Like, whatever, whatever the math. 31 grams of sugar per serving.
B
Yeah.
A
And so do you know what that does to your insulin system when you gut bomb. When you drink? You drink 62 grams of sugar.
B
Get it?
A
It's freaking awful. I was like, bro, what are you doing? I was. I wasn't more in direct. I was like, dude, what are you getting out of that? Well, you know, it's got. I think it's got the good greens in it. Okay, cool. Let me look at the label for a second. 62 grams of sugar. Stack 61 sugar cubes and eat them. So people, you know, and I'm. That's just. You gotta. You gotta use that intel. You got to get the knowledge of what's going on so that you can act and you can react properly and get this stuff squared away. You're 45. There's some stuff going on. Hey, you just got to be more active, dude. And when I say active, I'm not talking move more. I'm talking more actively engaged in making sure that is squared away. And that's what I missed. Did I miss anything?
B
Yeah, no, I don't. I wouldn't say miss, but I'd say this is something that I think comes to you very naturally, to the point where we. We barely talked about it up until recently. But this is a bit. I. I believe. I firmly believe being someone who's over 45 years old is a big factor. And that is telling yourself that you're old. Like, oh, I'm too old, or I'm old. These young guys, and I'm the old guy, you know? And therefore. So telling yourself that.
A
So it's literally making an excuse.
B
Yeah. But if the excuse goes deeper than just like, okay, that's it. I think it goes into your physiology as well. So I feel like it's kind of.
A
Like, all right, we're getting into some. Some mind body connection.
B
Trust me, I'm telling you, if you. How we put it. Don't accept that. Like, for real, don't accept it. And it starts with like, okay, so, you know, we've. I've known the guy, and I'm sure everyone has who does Jiu Jitsu, where it's like, the old guy's in there, he's good at Jiu jitsu, but he keeps talking about how old he is, you know, where it's like, yeah, pretty good for an old guy. And this about the old guy and just how he's this old guy. So he's kind of like, he. He basically knocks down his standard of performance because, yes, it is an excuse, but his whole body, his whole everything is following that. Yeah. And it's following that excuse pattern. So. So now when we're like, we go through, I don't know, some drill or some training or whatever, and, yeah, you. You get sore from it now instead of not, not accepting, like, bro, I'm not accepting that I'm sore. I'm not going to, like, start limping up the stairs. You know how, like, okay, here's what I will consciously keep myself from doing. And it's way easier now, you know, when you sit down for a long time, maybe you got some doms or whatever and going, you know how you do that? And do I do it all the time? No, but I'm just saying if you can consciously be, like, not accepting, be like, nope, don't care. Powering through, powering through, powering through. You'd be surprised, like, how little it affects you when you get used to that, you know? So anyway, that's like one of the. One of the versions of not accepting it. So if you do the opposite, if you start saying, hey, like, I'm the old guy. Oh, like, this old body could use a rest. Blah, blah, blah. This whole body, this. I'm old, I'm 45, whatever. Yeah, but that's a step in the wrong direction right there.
A
Yeah. If you wake up and you're like, dude, I feel like a freaking animal today. Yeah, whose neck am I gonna break training? Let's freaking go all day.
B
Don't care how old I am. Don't care. In fact, good, good. I got more experience. Blah, blah, blah. But yeah, if. If age is like this negative thing or whatever, and you consciously tell yourself that, I think that's a step in the wrong direction. And I think most people where. When they don't accept that, I think that they have a tendency to outperform everyone else at that age. So I've witnessed and experience too Though, because remember, you know, we talk about this with, like, lifting, for example. And, oh, there's a guy we train with. I forget his name anyways. He goes by Iron Man. But he. He said this as well, where it's like, when you. When you're lifting weights and stuff like that, and let's say you have a bad day of lifting and you're like over 40, you start to tell yourself, well, you know, I'm, hey, I had a good run. I'm older now. So now the next workout, you don't demand as much from yourself. So now you go a little bit less weight, you know, a little bit less little. If you. A little bit less sets. You know, I'm getting old. I don't have anymore. And guess what? That's okay. That's you accepting it when you should.
A
Be saying, like, oh, it felt a little weak today. Need a deload.
B
Yeah, deload.
A
Yep.
B
Recover more. Freaking really check my nutrition, like the thing. Maybe even freaking work out this little kinker here, no problem, so I can get back in it and make up for my lack of performance. You see what I'm saying?
A
So that is a little excerpt of what we are doing on the Jocko Underground podcast. So if you want to continue to listen, go to Jocko underground.com and subscribe. And we're doing this. We're doing this to mitigate our reliance on external platforms so we are not subject to their control. And we are doing this so that we can support the Jocko podcast, which will remain as is free for all as long as we can keep it that way. But we, but we are doing this so we don't have to be under the control of sponsors. And we're doing it so we can give you more control, more interaction, more direct connections, better communications with us. And to do that, we are, we're building a website right now where we'll be able to utilize to strengthen this legion of troopers that are in the game with us. So thank you. It's Jocko underground.com it cost $8.18 a month. And if you can't afford to support us, we can still support you. Just email assistanceacounderground.com and we'll get you to taken care of. Until then, we will see you mobilized Underground.
Jocko Podcast Episode Summary: "Jocko Underground: You Are Accepting Too Much Weakness"
Podcast Information
In episode 162 of the Jocko Underground podcast titled "You Are Accepting Too Much Weakness," hosts Jocko Willink and Echo Charles delve into the challenges faced by individuals who are grappling with age-related performance declines, particularly within physically demanding careers like law enforcement. The episode centers around a listener's question regarding maintaining peak physical condition at 45 years old and explores strategies to overcome perceived limitations.
Timestamp [00:15]
A listener reaches out with a concern about transitioning from a 15-year career in the medical field to law enforcement. After two years in corrections and recently joining a tactical team, the listener notes that despite maintaining physical fitness through running and lifting, training with younger colleagues highlights the physical toll of age. The listener is seeking advice on:
Key Quote:
Listener: "I'm physically fit, I run and lift, I drink and eat great. But training with these younger guys is really showing my age... Is there anything that can help these 45-year-old joints?" ([00:15])
Timestamp [00:59]
Jocko addresses the listener's concerns by emphasizing the importance of a multifaceted approach, focusing on nutrition, supplementation, mobility, and overall health management.
Jocko recommends a regimen of specific supplements known to support joint health and enhance physical performance:
Key Quote:
Jocko: "Joint warfare, super krill, time war, and creatine. Awesome. I believe that it has a lot to do with the longevity of performance." ([00:59])
Jocko stresses that eating "great" is subjective and may not be optimal for everyone. He advises a thorough evaluation of dietary habits to ensure they align with performance and recovery needs.
Key Quote:
Jocko: "Paying attention to what you're putting in your body, paying attention to the fuel. You have to. If you eat like junk, you're gonna feel like junk." ([02:30])
Acknowledging the increased need for mobility work as one ages, Jocko recommends:
Key Quote:
Jocko: "When you're 45, you got to get it done. You got to stretch. You got to get that mobility activity going on." ([04:10])
Jocko advises a proactive approach to health by:
Key Quote:
Jocko: "Go see a doctor, get your blood work done. See where you're at. See how that gut microbiome activity is." ([06:00])
Timestamp [09:09]
Echo Charles introduces a critical psychological aspect, emphasizing that accepting one's age as a limitation is a self-imposed barrier that can significantly hinder performance.
Echo highlights the detrimental effects of labeling oneself as "old," which can lead to lowered performance standards and complacency.
Key Quote:
Echo: "Telling yourself that you're old... it's literally making an excuse." ([09:34])
Both hosts advocate for a warrior-like mindset where age is not a hindrance but an advantage, leveraging experience and discipline to outperform younger counterparts.
Key Quote:
Echo: "Don't accept that. Powering through, powering through, powering through." ([09:47])
Echo encourages listeners to actively combat negative self-perceptions by maintaining high standards and pushing through physical and mental discomfort.
Key Quote:
Echo: "If you start saying, hey... this old body could use a rest... that's a step in the wrong direction." ([11:18])
Timestamp [12:31]
Building upon the discussion, Jocko and Echo outline actionable strategies to maintain and even elevate performance levels despite aging:
Deloading and Recovery
Key Quote:
Jocko: "Be saying, like, oh, it felt a little weak today. Need a deload." ([12:31])
Nutrition Optimization
Consistent Mobility Work
Active Engagement in Health Management
Throughout the episode, Jocko and Echo emphasize that overcoming the perceived limitations of aging is achievable through disciplined self-management, intelligent decision-making, and an unyielding mindset. By meticulously monitoring nutrition, leveraging supplements, maintaining mobility, and refusing to accept age as an impediment, individuals can sustain high performance levels well into their mid-forties and beyond.
Final Key Takeaways:
Note: This summary encapsulates the core discussions and advice shared by Jocko Willink and Echo Charles in the "Jocko Underground" episode. For a more in-depth understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.